Basin ElectricPower Cooperative's long-term and short-term ratings have beenplaced on review for downgrade at Moody's, including its A2 issuer rating andA1 rating for senior secured pollution control revenue bonds.

Basin Electric's first mortgage bonds rating, Prime-1 ratingfor pollution control bonds in commercial paper mode and Prime-1 rating of itscommercial paper program are also under review for a downgrade.

"The review reflects weak consolidated financialcoverage metrics for fiscal year 2015, and our expectations that metrics willcontinue to remain weak owing to commodity price driven pressures onconsolidated net margins and increased debt to fund Basin's sizableconsolidated capital expenditures," Moody's Vice President Senior AnalystKevin Rose said.

Basin Electric's ongoing expansion of its non-utilitysubsidiary Dakota GasificationCo. and related financing for those activities also poses as acredit risk to the overall business profile, Moody's said.